Legged Robot Sorting for High-Speed Laser Cut Part Unloading
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sorting systems for cut parts from laser cutting machines suffer from low unloading and sorting speed, leading to idle times and reduced productivity due to bottlenecks when the cutting speed exceeds the sorting capacity.
Innovation Solution
A sorting system utilizing a fleet of autonomous legged mobile robots that can grip and transport parts from a laser cutting machine to various destinations, equipped with sensor systems for quality control and edge detection, and controlled through centralized or decentralized control units, enabling flexible gripping techniques and collaborative transportation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If a traditional gantry-based sorting system is used, then the system structure is stable and easy to control, but the sorting speed is low and it cannot keep up with high cutting speeds
Solution Approach 1:
The sorting system is divided into multiple independent mobile robots instead of a single gantry structure. Each robot operates autonomously to pick and transport parts, enabling parallel processing and significantly increasing sorting speed while maintaining manageable individual unit complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a static gantry structure to dynamic mobile robots that can move freely across the work area. This dynamic approach allows flexible positioning and adaptation to different part locations, improving both speed and versatility without requiring complex fixed infrastructure
2Productivity
If the laser cutting machine operates at high speed, then productivity is improved, but the sorting system creates bottlenecks and causes idle times
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple mobile robots operate continuously and simultaneously to pick and transport parts without interruption. This continuous parallel operation ensures that the sorting capability matches or exceeds the cutting speed, eliminating idle times and maintaining continuous productivity throughout the manufacturing process
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile robots are positioned and ready to immediately pick up parts as soon as cutting is complete. This preliminary positioning and readiness ensures no waiting time occurs between cutting and sorting operations, maintaining continuous workflow and maximizing productivity
3Adaptability or versatility
If traditional electromagnetic pick-up heads are used, then gripping is simple, but flexibility in gripping from different directions is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile robots are equipped with universal gripping mechanisms that can adapt to grip parts from multiple directions (above, side, below). This multi-functional capability allows the same robot design to handle various part orientations and types, significantly improving gripping flexibility without requiring direction-specific specialized equipment
Solution Approach 2:
The gripping mechanism transitions from a fixed electromagnetic pick-up head to a dynamic, reconfigurable gripper that can adjust its approach angle and orientation. This dynamic adaptability enables gripping from different directions by repositioning the gripper on the mobile robot platform, enhancing versatility while maintaining manageable complexity through standardized actuation mechanisms
Data Source
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AI summary
In one aspect the invention relates to a sorting system (SortS) for sorting processed parts (P) from a workpiece (W), which has been processed by a laser processing machine (L), in particular a laser sheet processing machine, comprising: - A working table (WT) for supporting the workpiece (W) with the processed parts (P), which have been processed by the processing machine (L), - A fleet of interacting legged mobile robots (MR) for sorting the processed parts (P) in a collaborative manner to a target destination.